Electric adjusting device for the hands of clock mechanisms



Nov. 1, 1932.

C. ROSAT ET AL ELECTRIC ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR THE HANDS 0F CLOCK MEcHANIsMs Filed July 21, 1930 Fig.1.

Pam? 7?: mend mz fi Patented Nov. 1, 1932 r l l' OF FEQE CHARLES BOSAT, OF BQUIEISLY, JAKDB OTTQ') MIGSEE, OF BERN, AND PAUL REYIVIOND, 'OF .CDLOMBIER, SWITEZERLAITD; TElOSIiZ-LUCY RQSAT, NEE BfLE, ADMINISTRATCR O1 Sill) CHARLES ROSAT, DECEASED ELECTRIC ADJUSTENG DEVICE FOR '3 1930, Serial 2T0.

l'li (A Since We introduction of: electricity in the clock industry and for time measuring devices attempt have been made in various ways to ensure the accuracy of the time indication. In master and sub-clock systems, for instance current impulses are sent out from the master-clock at a given inst it hy means of a special conductor to the sub-clocks in order to synchronize the latter and radio currents have also been employed for synchronizing purposes.

The invention relates to an electric adj usting device for the hanr s of a clock movement in which a hand adjusting mechanism provided with an electro-control magnet having an armature is connected to an operating current circuit, for instance, a lighting circuit and is maintained inactive until its control magnet has been subjec ed through the supply current circuit to a short variation in its condition of energization for example, by a short interruption of the operating current at midnight, in order to release the adjustin mechanism and thereby adjust the he s 01 the clock movement exactly to the right time of approximately 12 o cloclr midnight.

The accompanying; drawing illustrates a constructional form of the invention. ure 1 being; circuit diagram of the arrange ment and Figure 2 illustrating the parts of the hands adjusting device connected to clock movement.

In Figure 1 it is assumed that the hands of an electrically driven clock A are to be adjusted from time to time say at midni ht to exact y 12 p. m. it they do not then cate that precise time. The clock A for this purpose is provided with an electrocontrol magnet a which has an armature Z) which with the lriving' mechanism of he clock it seli is connected by conductors l 2 to an operating; current main line 3 4 which may be for i tan an ordinary in-a main line. The ma net (i. maintained constantly energized by tie operating Olll foreholds its armature b in attracted position against the action of the spring 1".

i no; tae minute l Secured to the sleeve 0 car yi HE HAITI-3E5 OF CLOCK MECHANISMS 483,459, and in Switzerland August 12, 18:29.

bor a toothed wheel (2 adapted by means "cothed wheels f, g to cause a cam or snail h to perform a complete revolution inQ L Adjacent to the periphery of the snail disc 72. located the bent arm of a e ..-cranlr control lever 76 pivotally mounted i, the other end of the lever 7:: being provided with a pin Z which engages a hook of armature i). The control lever 76 is prowith a control spring m and a latch 0 pivotally mounted on the lever a the member 0 being provided with a pin 3), ada =tcd to be en 'aged by a leaf spring 9. he latch member 0 is adapted to engage r mounted on the hand adj ustinp; t is pivotally mounted at 's. counter w i 'ht arm it tends to maintain the upper end with an usting fork e which is adapted to cooperate with an adjusting arm 10 secured to the sleeve 0.

If at midnight the operating; current is interrupted for a short time, for instance for fraction oi? a second, which can be effected 1 example from a control point by means if a push button switch a: (Fig. 1) operated by a distant push button control or other device, the magnetci releases its armature b. The result of this is that since after the expiration of 2& hours the snail d' .c it has been rotated to such an extent that the control lever 7c is no longer supported thereby, the control lever 70 which has now been completec release of the armature 7) from xs spri: m in the direction of the arrow c. and tl a action of the latch member (1 carries the hand adjust lever t forward with a so to adjust the hand exactly at l cloc i by means of its adjusting t es .ill the usting arm a lee oi the minute hand.

race of the up- :liustiug forl: 0 will come i. nth the pin 10 on the arm Mes the latter back to the middle lever and t re latter, is permitted under the action of its counterweight u to swing back to its normal position. The arn'iature 5 is agaln attractec as the interruption of the current was only mi, and during the next 24 hours the rotating snail disc h guides the control lever gradually back to such a po sition that the latch inember'o engages with the pin r of the adjusting lever t and the control lever'k is reengaged by means of its pin Z to the end of the armature Z) in readiness for the next current interruption.

In order to eliminate as much as possi le any disturbance of the adjusting mechanism owing to accidental current interruption, the snail disc 72 is provided with a circular locking disc 71 the radius oi which is slightly smaller than the radius of the highest point of the cam disc h. The disc 7L is arranged to be pressed by spring action in an axial direction towards the snail disc 7L and serves as an additional locking support for the control lever 13 when the latter is in a position ready for release. The disc 72, is provided at a point corresponding to the release point of the snail disc h with a narrow slit If in order to permit the rocking movement of the control lever 7c when falling from the highest point of the snail disc 75.

A bevel 72/ formed on one edge of the slit 7L permits the disc 7Z1 which rotates with the snail disc: 7b, to pass the bent arm 70 of the lever 70, the disc 72. being resiliently returned during the period while the arm 70 is passing over the periphery of the snail disc it.

One advantage of the arrangement alcove described is that no special control circuit is required, since for instance, an ordinary v light main can be employed, and the conditions are particularly simple if the clock mechanism itself is already provided with an electric drive so that a current circuit is already available. Obviously it is possible to adjust any desired number of clock mechanisms by means of the device.

Arrangements could also be devised where by the control magnet is normally deenergized and during which time the hand adjusting mechanism remains inoperative until current is supplied thereto for an instant from the supply circuit, the armature being thereupon attracted to release the hand adjusting device for operation.

lVhat we claim is An electric driven clockwork, comprising an operating current circuit therefor, a hand adjusting lever, an electro control magnet having an armature, said magnet being connected in the same operating current circuit as the clockwork to be energized thereby, an interconnecting control lever between the armature of said control magnet and said hand adjusting lever, a'snail disc arranged to be operated by the clockwork and to control the operation of said interconnecting control lever in dependence of time, a device for briefly varying energization of said control magnet, a spring urged latch member for releasably coupling said interconnecting control lever with the hand adjusting lever in combination with a stop so arranged as to produce disengagement of said latch member when adjustment of the hand has been made and to thus allow the hand adjusting lever to return to its normal position.

In witness whereof wve have hereunto signed our names.

CHARLES ROSAT.

JAKOB OTTO MOSER.

PAUL REYMOND. 

